Mesojedec



Feb. 7, 1956A J. MEsoJEDEc PIVOTED HEAD SLIDING JAW RATCHET-TYPE END WRENCH Filed Dec. 21, 1954 OTED HEAD SLIDING JAW RATCHET-TYPE END WRENCH l John Mesojedec, Geneva, Ohio Application December 21, 1954, Serial No. 476,639 Claims. (Cl. 81165) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an end wrench in which suitable I' structural adaptations and facilities cooperate in providing a so-called ratchet-type wrench; that is, a wrench wherein the cooperating work embracing jaws grip and turn the work when the handle is swung in one direction, and automatically loosen thefgrip and ratchet over the peripheral surfaces ofthe work when the handle is swung in the opposite direction.

. As will be clear from the, somewhat broad and far reaching opening statement of `the subject matter of the invention, ratchet-type end wrenches are not new. It is therefore an object of the instant invention to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing end Wrenches and, in doing so, to provide a novel structural adaptation in which wrench and tool manufacturers will iind their economical and other requirements met and retailers and users will find their respective needs likewise eifectually met.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, a wrench is had wherein the steps of loosening and tightening bolts, nuts and the like are speeded up by reason of the available ratcheting action and wherein, more importantly, the ratchet means may be temporarily and intentionally rendered ineffective and the head and adjustable jaws may be mechanically locked to the operating` handle or lever and thus adjusted and used much in the manner of any ordinary or conventional-type end wrench.

Briefly summarized, a preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a lever functioning as a handle, a head hingedly mounted on one end of said handle, said head embodying a fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably mounted and adjustable toward and from said fixed jaw and having a rack, the body portion of said head` having a worm accommodating notch and complemental axially aligned spindle accommodating bores, a spindle having a portion bridging said notch and end portions slidable and rotatable in said bores, a worm keyed on and operable in unison with said spindle and actuatable back and forth in said notch, a coil spring encircling said spindle with one end bearing against said worm and the other end against the adjacent end wall of said notch, and manually regulable mechanical means for optionally locking said head to said handle or, alternatively, unlocking the head, whereby said wrench may be `used either as a ratcheting type or a regular nonratcheting type.

Novelty in addition is predicated on the construction revealed and wherein the means stated is characterized by a simple and practical projectible and retractible latch whose position may be set to either block the sliding' movement of theV spindle and worm thereon, or to clear it, whichever is desired,v this in a manner to either lock or unlock the head and to selectively employ the jaws for either ratcheting or non-ratcheting, as the case may be.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a side elevation on a relatively small scale, of a two-way or convertible ratchet-type end wrench constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, with the jaws closed; a

Figure 2 is an enlarged view inV section and` elevation Showing the jaws gripping the' riu't or other wokpiec'e so fmdi States Patent 2,733,626 iatented Feb. 7, 1956 ICC that by swinging the handle `from right to left, the nut may be turned, in an Vobvious manner; i

Figure 3 is a view also in section and elevation and showing the same construction seen in Figure 2, except that the jaws arenow spread apart to allow the same to ratchet relative to the peripheral edge portions of the nut;

Figure 4 is a section on the vertical line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a similar section on the line 5 5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view based on the showings seen in Figures 2 and 3, respectively, and showing the locking latch projected to its locking position; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the eccentric type hinge pin used as a connection between the bifurcations of the head and the intervening portion of the handle.

Referring now to the drawings and with general reference to the wrench in the sense that it is an entity, and with reference to Figure l, the handle or lever is denoted by the numeral 10, and the hingedly mounted head by the numeral l2. One may assume that the head is pivoted or hinged on one end of the handle, or that, vice versa, the handle is pivoted to the head. In any event, the body portion of the head 14 is bifurcated and the furcations i6 straddle the handle and are hingedly connected thereto, as denoted broadly by the numeral 1,8. This hinge connection will be more specilically described later on. Said body portion also has a substantially cylindrical open-ended passage 2t) therethrough and a communicating lengthwise slot 22. Projecting at right angles beyond the passage and slot is an extension which is fashioned into an appropriate jaw 24 which is here referred to as the fixed or relatively stationary jaw. The movable jaw unit comprises a jaw 26 which isV opposed to and movable toward and from the jaw 24 and which has a body portion including a sort of a web 28 operable in the slot and a substantially cylindrical shank 30 operable in the passage and provided with teeth 32 providing a rack. As perhaps better shown in Figures 2 and 3, this body portion is also formed with a space which is here referred to as a notch 34 with a shoulder 36 atthe right hand end in the drawings. The opposite end wall provides another shoulder 38, as seen at the left in Figures 2 and 3. To the right and left of the shoulders are cylindrical bores 4t) and 42, respectively, with the end portion 440i the spindle operating in the bore 40 and the enlarged end portion 46, operating in the bore 42, with this enlarged portion dening a shoulder intermediate the ends of the spindle. The spindle passesthrough a passage provided therefor in the adjusting worm or nut 48. The headed or shouldered end portion 46 fits, into a socket 50 in the other end of the worm and there is a coil spring 52 encircling this end of the spindle and bearing at one end against the worm 48 by way of the socket 50 and at the opposite end against the wall 38. The threads of the worm are, of course, in operating mesh with the teeth of the rack 32 and, as usual, the worm serves to adjust the jaws toward and from each other in a somewhat obvious manner.l j

Attention is now directed to the hinge pin connection 18 between the bifurcations 16 and intervening end portion 54 of the handle. As shown best in Figure 4, the

handle has a circular bearing hole 56 to accommodate the eccentric portion 58 while the bifurcation on one side at the right in Figure 4 has a socket 60 into which the head 62 fits, this being provided with a screwdriver kerf 64. The flanged or peened end portion 66 ts into a non-threaded hole 68 provided therefor in the left hand furcatior, as shown. The head 62 may be turned to assurneythe position seen in phantom lines in Figtires 2 and 3, or reversed and turned to the position shown in Figure 6. There is a leat` spring 70 provided I and anchored at one end in the handle with its opposite free end in the space between the end portion 54 of the handle and the adjacent bottom surface of the body portion of the head, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6.

In the left hand edge portion of the handle, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is a recess 72 and what may be described as an associated stud or lug 74. The apertured portion 76 of a locking latch 78 is fitted over this lug. The latch is at right angles to the spindle and worm assembly and is operable in an appropriate guide 80 provided therefor. The beveled end portion 82 of the latch is in close proximity to the bore 42, and it is intended to intersect this bore. This latch may be retracted and held in the out-of-the-way position seen in Figures 2 and 3, or it may be projected to bridge the bore and to block the hea-ded end 46 of the spindle in the manner shown in Figure 6. This is done by applying a screwdriver to the bolt 18 and turning the cam of the bolt so that the head 12 is separated slightly from the end portion 54 of the handle 10 so that it is possible to thus clamp the furcations against the 'handle and secure the head temporarily to the handle and simultaneously project the latching bolt or latch 78 to a position to block the spindle and to prevent the same from moving in a direction from right to left in the drawings. Briefly, then, in order to operate the wrench, one needs to first adjust the eccentric and hinge pin it-using a screwdriver to accomplish this purpose, and until the worm spindle, the end 46, has clearance to operate in the passage or bore 42 in which position the latch or latch bolt 76 is out of the way, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. Now, the operator may turn the worm 4 and operate the rack and thus adjust the two jaws 26 and 24 to firmly fit the nut or other work part A, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Then, one catches hold of the handle or lever and moves it from right to left or clockwise to tighten the nut or other wo-rk part, and upon returning the handle in the opposite direction and keeping the jaws applied to the work, the jaws spread apart and the ratchet action seen in Figure 3 is accomplished so that a new grip may be had. To lock the head on the handle clampingly and bound so that it becomes, temporarily, a stationary part of the handle and the wrench is then usable as any ordinary end wrench, simply turn the eccentric pin until the handle is locked in place, as brought out in Figure 6.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However', since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. An end wrench comprising a handle, a head having a body portion provided with furcations, said turcations straddling an end portion of said handle, one furcation having a non-threaded hole, the other furcation having a complemental non-threaded hole, said handle having a third hole cooperable therewith and in alignment therewith, a connecting pin having an eccentric turnable in the hole in said handle, a head yturnable in one hole in one furcation and a lianged end rotatable in the hole in the other furcation, the body portion of said head having a lateral fixed jaw and a passage at right angles to they lengthwise axis of the handle, a relatively movable jaw having a shank slidable in said passage, said shank having rack teeth, a spindle mounted for rotation and sliding in bores provided therefor in the body portion of said head, a worm carried by said spindle and operatively engaged with the -teeth of said rack.

2. An end wrench comprising a handle, a head having a body portion provided with furcations, said furcations straddling an end portion of said handle, one furcation having a non-threaded hole, the other furcation having a complemental non-threaded hole, said handle having a third hole cooperable therewith and in alignment therewith, a connecting pin having an eccentric turnable in the hole in said handle, a head turnable in one hole in one furcation and a fianged end rotatable in the hole in the other furcation, the body portion of said head having a lateral xed jaw and a passage at right angles to the lengthwise axis of the handle, a relatively movable jaw having a shank slidable in said passage, said shank having rack teeth, a spindle mounted for rotation and sliding in bores provided therefor in the body portion of said head, a wormcarried by said spindle and operatively engaged with the teeth of said rack, said worm being provided in one end with an axial socket, the adjacent end portion of said spindle being headed and providing a shoulder extending into and abutting the bottom of the socket, a coil spring surrounding the headed end and having one end fitting into the socket and the other end engaging a surface of the body portion.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, said handle having a lug, an apertured latch mounted on said lug and extending at right angles to the lug and having an end portion projectible toward andkfrom and optionally engageable with an end of the headed end portion of said spindle so as to lock the spindle in a predetermined position.

4. An end wrench comprising a handle, a head hingedly mounted on one end of said handle, said head embodying a fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably mounted and adjustable toward and from said fixed jaw and having a rack, the body portion of said head having a Worm accommodating notch and complemental axially aligned spindle accommodating bores, a spindle having a portion bridging said notch and end portions slidable and rotatable in said bores, a worm keyed on and operable in unison with said spindle and actuatable back and forth in said notch, a coil spring encircling said spindle with one end bearing against said Worm and the other end against the adjacent end Wall of said notch, and manually regulable projectible and retractible latch means for either clearing or blocking'the sliding movement of said spindle and worm and for thus optionally locking said head to said handle, or, alternatively, unlocking the head, whereby said Wrench may be used either as a ratcheting type or a regular nonratcheting type.

5. An end wrench comprising a handle, a head hingedly mounted on one end of said handle, said head embodying a fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably mounted and adjustable toward and from said fixed jaw-and having a rack, the body portion of said head having a worm accommodating notch and complemental axially aligned spindle accommodating bores, a spindle having a portion bridging said notch and end portions slidable and rotatable in said bores, a worm keyed on and operable in unison with said spindle and actuatable back and forth in said notch, a coil spring encircling said spindle with one end bearing against said worm and the other end against the adjacent end wall of said notch, and a manually regulable projectible and retractible latch for either clearing or blocking the sliding movement of said spindle and worm, one end portion-of said worm having an axial socket, and the same end portion of said spindle being increased in diameter and providing a stop shoulder which telescopes into the socket and has end thrust engagement with said worm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,739 Menzl June 26, 1923 2,069,842 Nielsen Feb. 9, 1937 2,232,259 Morgan' Feb. 18, 1941 2,562,060 Pehrsson July 24, 1951 2,646,711 Yarner July 28, 1953 2,647,425 Mortensen Aug. 4, 1953 

